The toy budget seems to have recovered from the Encore I bought and there appears to be a "need" for an RCBS Chargemaster 1500. When loading 300 RUM's, my Uniflow was very inconsistent throwing that amount of RL22. This meant I had to weigh every charge and trickle in the rest. Would the Chargemaster be better? Is there a better brand of these auto-measurers? Thanks, Rich
Some people are a lot like Slinkies: They're not good for much but it's kind of fun to push them down a flight of stairs.
I own the Chargemaster and reccomend it. Very fast, accurate and start up takes less than 1 min..I do still use my Pacific dispenser for the 223 only, it is faster for those small charger and I do a lot of them at one time, every thing else goes through the RCBS.
Posts: 1072 | Location: Pine Haven, Wyo | Registered: 14 February 2005
I've had an electronic scale here for some months, and I've yet to use it. Can't say I don't like it as that wouldn't be a fair statement, ...maybe it'll see the light of day when I start varminting.
I have the Lyman 1200 DPS and my buddy has the RCBS. Buy the RCBS, it's faster and easier to change powders.
"I ask, sir, what is the Militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effective way to enslave them" - George Mason, co-author of the Second Amendment during the Virginia convention to ratify the Constitution
Posts: 1699 | Location: San Antonio, TX | Registered: 14 April 2004
I have seen both side by side and own an RCBS Chargemaster 1500 unit myself. I'll give you the short version.
The RCBS is faster to dispense a charge and much easier to clean/switch powders. The biggest factor for me is the Lyman 1200DPS model has a 30 minute calibration period when you first switch it on. The RCBS takes about 10 seconds. Aside from that they both produce accurate loads and both IMO are just as accurate if not more so than a ballance beam scale.
A good friend of mine uses the 1200 and I use the RCBS, we both shoot big magnum cartriges that require 95+ grains of powder. For big jobs like this I like to use my crappy old lee dispenser and drop about 85 grains then let the RCBS trickle for me. Both my friend and myself do this and agree it's the best way.
I have used all types of powder with my unit. Ball, flake, extruded. It dosen't seem to make a difference what you throw at it, it will dispense it.
I find the load memory to be kind of stupid, although you may not. I guess to some it has it's purposes but I always know in my head what I need to throw out of one kind of powder and I just punch it in and press enter, after the inital charge is entered all you have to do is set the empty powder pan back on the scale and press enter again and it will dispense the same load over and over and over again. The Lyman is the same way. I believe the lyman does have more space for saving loads. I believe it will hold 100 stored loads in it's memory, however you have to decide if this is a usefull feature for you.
I could not live without my RCBS, however if it's worth the extra 60-70 is up to you.
Posts: 182 | Location: Texas | Registered: 10 May 2005
After dumping and trickling for several years, I finally broke down and got the RCBS chargemaster. The best investment I made, accurate and fast with all types of powders. It may seem pricy at first, but you won't regret it in the long run.
Posts: 149 | Location: western Iowa | Registered: 28 February 2005
When loading 300 RUM's, my Uniflow was very inconsistent throwing that amount of RL22. This meant I had to weigh every charge and trickle in the rest. Would the Chargemaster be better? Is there a better brand of these auto-measurers?
Going to be getting one of those things soon. 
